Paramedics hospitalized after finding 2 dead, 2 unresponsive at Mountainair home

MOUNTAINAIR, N.M. — Three people are dead and 19 are hospitalized after reportedly being exposed to a substance at home Wednesday in Mountainair.

Paramedics and sheriff’s deputies responded to a home on Hanlon Avenue and Pinon Street, regarding a call made around 8 a.m. about a possible overdose on an unknown substance.

First responders found one person dead outside of the home, one dead inside and two other people who needed resuscitation. One of those two people later died.

The other person is being “quarantined, evaluated and monitored” at University of New Mexico Hospital, along with 18 first responders. The first responders reported reactive symptoms, including nausea, vomiting and headache, including two who are now in serious condition at UNMH.

A UNMH spokesperson confirmed they admitted “several patients” just after 10 a.m. for “decontamination and treatment” after being exposed to “an unknown substance in Torrance County.”

Albuquerque Fire Rescue HazMat teams are assisting at the scene with identifying the substance. Investigators believe it may have been transmitted through contact and wasn’t airborne.

State Police took over the investigation from the Torrance County Sheriff’s Office. They stated investigators secured the affected area to where there is no danger to the community.

“We ask the public to avoid the area and keep all affected individuals and first responders in their thoughts,” State Police stated.

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